Chapter 24 Chapter Twenty-Three

About three weeks later, a car pulled up in front of the Price mansion. Four people got out of the car, I was one of them, Inspector Li Jun, Police Officer Li, and the fourth was Mr. Osborne. As a member of this team, he could hardly hide his joy and enthusiasm. excited. "You know, you must keep silent." Li Jun reminded him. "Yes, of course, Inspector. You can trust me one hundred per cent, I won't say a word." "better not." "I think it's a privilege, a great privilege, but I don't quite understand it and no one has time to explain it at this point."

Li Jun rang a bell and asked to see Mr. Winner. Then the four of us rushed in like a delegation. If Winnerb was surprised by our visit, he didn't show it.His attitude is very polite.When he pushed the wheelchair back a little to make the circle wider, I couldn't help but think again, this man's facial features are really too prominent.His prominent Adam's apple, which goes up and down in the classic collar, and his wild profile, with his hooked nose, resembles a bird of prey. "Nice to see you again, Easterbrook. You seem to be hanging around a lot lately." There seemed to be a vague malice in his voice, I thought.

He added: "Also, are you Inspector Li Jun? I admit, I'm a little curious. My little place is so peaceful, so far away from evil, but there are inspectors coming! What can I do for you?" Inspector." Li Jun was very calm and very polite. "One thing, maybe you can help us, Mr. Winnerb." "That sounds familiar, doesn't it? How do you think I can help you?" "On October 7th, a priest Gorman was murdered in West Street, Paddington. As far as I know, you were in the vicinity at the time, between seven forty-five and eight quarters in the evening. We thought, maybe you saw something about that?"

"Was I really around there? I doubt it, really doubt it. I've never been in that part of London as far as I can remember, and I don't remember being in that part of London at all. And I remember I It was not in London at all. I just went to London occasionally to attend auctions and have a fun day, and sometimes I went to check up." "Sir William Taudale, Harley Street?" Mr. Wienerb looked at him coldly. "You are well informed, Inspector." "Not quite as far as I'd like. But I'm disappointed that you couldn't help me as much as I'd hoped. I thought I'd first explain to you about Father Gorman's death."

"If you want, of course. I've never heard that name." "That foggy night, Father Goldman was called to the bedside of a dying woman nearby. The woman was connected to a criminal organization, which she didn't know at first, but then something finally made her suspect something was serious. The organization Specializes in getting rid of thorns in people's eyes - needless to say, the cost is of course very high." "That's nothing new," murmured Weinable, "America—" "Oh, but this particular organization also has some very mysterious properties. First, their method of killing people is by so-called psychological methods. It is said that everyone has a will to die, if stimulated—"

"That man would kill himself? Inspector, if you pardon me, that would be incredible." "Not suicide, Mr. Winnerb, but a natural death." "Forget it, forget it, do you really believe it? This is really not like the style of our smart police officers!" "It is said that the headquarters of this organization is a place called 'White Horse'." "Oh, I kind of get it, that's why you come to our little country place, my friend is Sesha Gray, and her nonsense, really! I never knew what she was Not to believe that, but that's bullshit! She has a goofy psychic friend, and a local witch cooks for her, (how brave she is to eat it - there could be poisonous carrots in the soup any minute Juice!) The three of them are quite well-known in the local area. Of course, they are a bit naughty, but Scotland Yard or whatever unit sent you, can't take this seriously?"

"We're serious indeed, Mr. Wienerable." "Do you really believe that Sesha's babble, Sibyl in a trance, and Bella's witchcraft can kill people?" "Oh, no, Mr. Winnerb, the cause of death is not that complicated—" He paused, and then said, "The real cause of death is thallium poisoning." There was a brief silence— "What did you say?" "The poison - thallium salts, is very simple. But it needs a little disguise, and the best way is to use fake scientific, psychological background - full of modern terms, and superstition to strengthen its power. So so careful planning, just In order to divert other people's attention, so that they don't find out that they are simply killing people with poison."

"Thallium," Mr. Winner frowned, "I don't think I've ever heard of it." "Really? It's usually used to make rat poison, and sometimes it's used to treat ringworm in children. It's easy to get. By the way, there's a pack stuffed in a corner of the garden tool shed over here." "'My' garden tool shed? Sounds like an impossibility." "But there are, we've got some to test—" Winner got a little nervous. "Someone must have let it go on purpose. I don't know anything! I don't know anything!"

"Is that so? You're quite a rich man, aren't you, Mr. Winnerbaugh." "What does that have to do with what we're talking about?" "I suppose the IRS has been asking you some tough questions lately? I mean income." "Living in the UK, the biggest headache is the tax system, so recently I'm thinking about moving to Bermuda." "I don't think it's possible for you to go for the time being, Mr. Wienerable." "Are you threatening me? Inspector, if—" "No, no, Mr. Wienerb, I'm just making a point. Would you like to hear how this little criminal group works?"

"Anyway, you've made up your mind to tell me." "The organization is very regular, and the financial details are arranged by a disbarred Mr. Bradley in Birmingham. Interested customers first come to his office to negotiate terms. That is to say, the two parties agree to bet on a certain Will people die within a certain period of time. Usually, Mr. Bradley is very confident in what he predicts. Customers have greater hopes. After Mr. Bradley wins, the other party must pay immediately. Money—otherwise something unpleasant might happen. Mr. Bradley's job is just one—bet, easy enough, isn't it?"

"Then, the customer goes to visit the 'White Horse Hotel,' and Setha Gray and her friends put on a scene that usually leaves a deep impression on the customer." "Now I come to the simple truth behind these smokescreens." "Some women were hired by a consumer research company to conduct questionnaire surveys in certain areas: 'What kind of bread do you like? What brand of hygiene products and cosmetics do you use in your house?' Anyway, most people are used to answering questionnaires now, so they usually don't would object to being investigated." "So, there's one final step. Simple, bold, and successful! The only person in the program who did the work, the founder who thought it all up, sometimes dressed as the mansion porter, sometimes as the Someone who checks the gas meter or the electric meter. In any case, he will have the appropriate identification on him, ready to show others. No matter what role he plays, his real purpose is simple-to find out through the questionnaire Swapped out some brand-name stuff that the guy used, and replaced it with something like poison. And when the job was done, he was never around again." "In the first few days, nothing may happen, but sooner or later the victim will show some symptoms of illness. Although he has been to the doctor, he can't see anything abnormal. He may ask the patient what to eat or drink. something, but there is no doubt about the general personal items that the patient has used for several years." "Now, you know how wonderful this plan is! Mr. Winner. The only person who knows what the leader of this organization has done - is the leader himself, and no one can reveal his secrets. " "Oh, how do you know so much?" asked Mr. Winnerb pleasantly. "When we doubt someone, there is always a way to get a definitive answer." "Really? Like what method?" "Of course it doesn't have to be used at all, but a camera is enough. There are many ingenious inventions that can take pictures of others when they are not looking. For example, we have some very good pictures. A concierge, or someone who checks gas watches. Although the man sometimes wears a false beard, sometimes different false teeth, etc., but is still easily recognized-first Catherine Corrigan (alias Mark Mrs. Easterbrook), and a woman named Edith Bings. It's fun to identify people, Mr. Winnerb. This Mr. Osborne, for example, would swear that October At about eight o'clock in the evening on the 7th, he saw you following Father Goldman on Barton Street." "I did see you!" said Mr. Osborne excitedly, leaning forward. "I've described you—and I've described you exactly!" "Perhaps the description is too correct," Li Jun said, "because when you were standing in front of your pharmacy that night, you didn't see Mr. Wienerbo—in fact, you weren't standing there at all! You followed Behind the priest, when he reaches West Street, kill him..." Mr Sajolly Osborne said: "What?" It might be ridiculous, no, it would be ridiculous!Shocked and drooping jaw, stunned look... "Mr Winable, let me introduce you to Mr Sachjolly Osborne, who was originally a pharmacist in Barton Street, Paddington. If I told you that during the time we were watching his movements, You will find it very interesting to find that he once unwisely placed a bag of thallium salt in the hut where the gardening tools are kept in the house. Originally, he didn’t know that you were inconvenient, so he falsely accused you of being the murderer, very complacent It was fun. But he was stubborn and stupid, so he never admitted that he made a mistake." "Stupid? You say I'm stupid? If you knew--if you knew what I did--could do--I--" Osborne was shaking with rage. Li Jun looked at him carefully, his expression reminded me of a fisherman's expression when he mentioned fish. "You shouldn't be trying to be so smart!" he reproached. "If you just stayed in your shop like that and let us do it, I wouldn't come here either, and it's my duty to remind you that you Anything said was recorded and at that point, Mr Osborne screamed."